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General William Booth Enters into Heaven

Introduction

General William Booth Enters into Heaven (1914) is one of Ives’s supreme achievements in the field of song. Vachel Lindsay (1879–1931) made his name as the writer (and pyrotechnical performer) of a modern ballad poetry whose strenuous rodomontade established an ‘American rhythm’ dealing with indigenous and contemporary subjects. He gained widespread acclaim with the publication in 1913 of his first collection, of which General William Booth Enters into Heaven, in memory of the founder of the Salvation Army, was the title poem.

Ives seems to have come across the text in a review of Lindsay’s poetry published in the New York Independent on 12 January 1914, since he sets only the thirty-one lines quoted in that review. The poem’s musical possibilities – and also no doubt the fervour of its Gospel religion – clearly fired him, and he had soon composed a setting (he called it a ‘glory trance’) for voice and piano. This was not published in his collection of 114 Songs, maybe because the possibility of using larger forces was present from the beginning. Ives made some sketches towards a brass band version, and a male chorus form. In 1934 the composer John J Becker, one of Ives’s staunchest admirers, arranged General Booth for bass voice, chorus and chamber orchestra, in which form it has become best known. But it remains a stunning tour de force in the original song version.

Recordings

'Finley is always essentially a singer—his tone and command of the singing line are a pleasure in themselves. But he also has the absolute mastery of ...'I cannot praise Gerald Finley’s performance too highly. It takes a very special artist to bring such unembarrassed fervour to General Booth Enters ...» More

Details

Booth led boldly with his big bass drum (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Hallelujah! Saints smiled gravely and they said, “He’s come” (Washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Walking lepers followed rank on rank, Lurching bravoes from the ditches dank, Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale Minds still passion ridden, soul powers frail: Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath, Unwashed legions with the ways of Death. (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Ev’ry slum had sent its half a score The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.) Ev’ry banner that the wide world flies, Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes. Big-voiced lassies made their banjos bang, Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang: “Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?” Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Lord, Hallelujah! It was queer to see Bull-necked convicts with that land make free. Loons with trumpets blowed a blare On and upward thro’ the golden air! (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Jesus came from the courthouse door, Stretched his hands above the passing poor. Booth saw not, but led his queer ones, Round and round, Yet! In an instant all that blear review Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new. The lame were straightened (Hallelujah!), withered limbs uncurled And blind eyes opened on a new sweet world. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Booth led boldly with his big bass drum (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Hallelujah! Saints smiled gravely and they said, “He’s come” (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Walking lepers followed rank on rank, Lurching bravoes from the ditches dank, Drabs from the alleyways and drug fiends pale Minds still passion ridden, soul powers frail: Vermin-eaten saints with mouldy breath, Unwashed legions with the ways of Death. (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Ev’ry slum had sent its half a score The round world over. (Booth had groaned for more.) Ev’ry banner that the wide world flies, Bloomed with glory and transcendent dyes. Big-voiced lassies made their banjos bang, Tranced, fanatical they shrieked and sang: “Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?” Hallelujah! Hallelujah, Lord, Hallelujah! It was queer to see Bull-necked convicts with that land make free. Loons with trumpets blowed a blare On and upward thro’ the golden air! (Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?) Jesus came from the courthouse door, Stretched his hands above the passing poor. Booth saw not, but led his queer ones, Round and round the mighty courthouse square. Yet! In an instant all that blear review Marched on spotless, clad in raiment new. The lame were straightened (Hallelujah!), withered limbs uncurled And blind eyes opened on a new sweet world. Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?